Pip the Robo
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Pip's moving back date, keeps getting put back. Just one thing after another this week. And things on this week-end as well. It shouldn't really take much doing seeing as it was nearly done last week-end. Pip has actually settled into the Mickey 2XL. He interacts with me again now and doesn't run away. Last night he was out and about in it quite a lot and he's finally found the saucer and was using that and looking at me now and then. I never realised Robos did little stampy feet dances until Pip had this cardboard shoebox - it's like having a drummer in the room. He skits about on top of it foraging food he's kicked out of his food bowl and it's surprising how much noise it makes.
He is looking older. Mainly his back half that looks thinner and his back legs look longer (assume less fur on them). Slightly scraggy looking. His front half looks ok. But he definitely doesn't look so round and fluffy any more.
Seeing him settled into the cage last night made me slightly apprehensive about upheaving him again. But it should be a smoother transition this time as he'll have familiar smelling bedding in the cage and some old items he'll recognise.
One annoying thing. The cork branch (not log) I boiled two weeks ago (can't believe it was two weeks ago) was left on a side to dry out. Today I noticed it had got a bit of furry mould on one end! Assume with it being dense and wet, and the heat it took longer to dry out than a cork tunnel and got a bit humid. I've washed it off with hot water and left it out to dry out again. Might put it in the oven. That should kill mould shouldn't it?
He is looking older. Mainly his back half that looks thinner and his back legs look longer (assume less fur on them). Slightly scraggy looking. His front half looks ok. But he definitely doesn't look so round and fluffy any more.
Seeing him settled into the cage last night made me slightly apprehensive about upheaving him again. But it should be a smoother transition this time as he'll have familiar smelling bedding in the cage and some old items he'll recognise.
One annoying thing. The cork branch (not log) I boiled two weeks ago (can't believe it was two weeks ago) was left on a side to dry out. Today I noticed it had got a bit of furry mould on one end! Assume with it being dense and wet, and the heat it took longer to dry out than a cork tunnel and got a bit humid. I've washed it off with hot water and left it out to dry out again. Might put it in the oven. That should kill mould shouldn't it?
He sounds quite content at the moment & it seems he’s got over changing cages, it’s great that he’s interacting with you a bit again & not just dashing off.
He seems to have plenty of energy even if he is showing signs of ageing now. Had to laugh at the noisy little drummer!
He seems to have plenty of energy even if he is showing signs of ageing now. Had to laugh at the noisy little drummer!
R
RainbowBrite
I know what you mean about robos stamping their feet. It is so cute and funny. 
F
Frida
It's nice Pip isn't running away from you anymore. Pip drumming his feet made me chuckle 
M
Member ID2
I've never boiled anything and give things a wash then bake at 100C for an hour.
I'd wash and scrab the mould off then bake.
I think the Mickey 2XL would be fine for an elderly Robo and probably easier to keep an eye on him. I'd be inclined to keep him in there.
Haha, sounds like Pip is having fun making a noise.
I'd wash and scrab the mould off then bake.
I think the Mickey 2XL would be fine for an elderly Robo and probably easier to keep an eye on him. I'd be inclined to keep him in there.
Haha, sounds like Pip is having fun making a noise.
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Thanks Beryl. I still think he needs more to do and more space, and I think he finds it a bit basic and exposed as well. If he was to stay in it, it would need a lot more adding and a more comprehensive set up, which would still be change. The change back will be less major as it will have his familiar smelling nest and bedding. And other items will smell familiar too - food bowl, water bowl, carrot cottage etc. He still seems a bit skitty and think he's missing his deeper bedding for burrowing down in and tunneling between house and hide.
When Pickle had something similar, I did decide to leave him in it, rather than upheave him again - he was quite a sensitive shy Syrian. In some ways I regretted that later.
When Pickle had something similar, I did decide to leave him in it, rather than upheave him again - he was quite a sensitive shy Syrian. In some ways I regretted that later.
M
Member ID2
Oh yes, i'm aware that Pip would need a more enriched set up in the Mickey.
It can be very difficult to know what is for the best and hamsters react differently to changes.
It can be very difficult to know what is for the best and hamsters react differently to changes.
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If I had known he was going to be in it this long I would added a lot more to the cage! It was only supposed to be for a couple of days! It's maybe partly me as well. I find it easier to set up the Plaza now and actually prefer the door on it, and I think he'll enjoy the space. It's going to need change whichever way and I think he'll settle with familiarity.
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I was setting up Pip's Plaza yesterday afternoon and thought it was a fairly easy job as most items were going back where they were before, apart from being on legs, and just one or two things to add. It didn't seem like a job that would take that long and I thought I might have even got him moved back last night. But as usual, something crops up that didn't fit into the plan! Because the cage is now technically so much lower, with the deep bedding, the new water bottle holder I bought doesn't actually fit with the bottle in it! It's just a bit too tall. There was one place it just fitted, but then I wouldn't have had anything to catch drips in that location - no room for it.
So I fiddled about for ages with various water bottle options and left it for the night. I might need to wait till Sunday night now as a busy week-end.
There is one place in the cage where it will attach to the bars (the bit of bars I left exposed) and be high enough, but I don't want it there! And it would be over substrate as well and get soggy substrate. Plus I need other things to go there. I tried making a stand out of a toilet roll but think it would fall over too easily. So I'm having a think about it - what I could rearrange, but basically the lower height is an issue for a freestanding bottle. After various experiences of soggy things under bottles I only like it if there is a tile under to soak up the drips. And couldn't put a heavy tile on deep bedding (and I am not attempting to attach any more legs).
So I'm having a rethink and a break from it! I actually kept wishing the Plaza was bigger so I could fit more items in and wishing it was a 120 Plaza
So I fiddled about for ages with various water bottle options and left it for the night. I might need to wait till Sunday night now as a busy week-end.
There is one place in the cage where it will attach to the bars (the bit of bars I left exposed) and be high enough, but I don't want it there! And it would be over substrate as well and get soggy substrate. Plus I need other things to go there. I tried making a stand out of a toilet roll but think it would fall over too easily. So I'm having a think about it - what I could rearrange, but basically the lower height is an issue for a freestanding bottle. After various experiences of soggy things under bottles I only like it if there is a tile under to soak up the drips. And couldn't put a heavy tile on deep bedding (and I am not attempting to attach any more legs).
So I'm having a rethink and a break from it! I actually kept wishing the Plaza was bigger so I could fit more items in and wishing it was a 120 Plaza
R
RainbowBrite
Oh no! I am sorry to read this. How frustrating for you after you planned everything so carefully too.
I know some people attach water bottles using Velcro but I once tried it and didnt feel it worked.
I know some people attach water bottles using Velcro but I once tried it and didnt feel it worked.
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I did think about that, but wasn't keen on the idea plus thought it would be a fiddle to take in and out each time. I will work something out when I get time to think. I had failed to calculate the final height of the cage and house roof and the height of the bottle holder! Main thing is I usually like to have it on or over a shelf where I can put a tile. The house is too high up for that and the shelf is too small for that (and a bit high up). Because I ended up only using one shelf so there is more room for floor items and for a ladder I got that fits the shelf. Pip used to love zooming up and down his ladder so I thought that was a good thing to retain - but it is now at a much more shallow angle as he's older.
I'm still a bit adverse to using a bowl. I know others do, but I'm used to them having a bottle. And robos do get into all sorts. Plus he is old and might totter over. Even the smallest of Ikea tealights is big enough for a small robo to get into!
I'm still a bit adverse to using a bowl. I know others do, but I'm used to them having a bottle. And robos do get into all sorts. Plus he is old and might totter over. Even the smallest of Ikea tealights is big enough for a small robo to get into!
R
RainbowBrite
I can understand you feeling nervous as you have never used a bowl. It may be confusing for Pip as he has not used one before.
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Also, in hindsight, I may as well have got the full perspex panels - because with everything raised up, the living area is much nearer the roof, so there is plenty of ventilation. But then I wouldn't be able to attach a bottle to the bars! Which I can actually do in one corner of the cage and it not be too low - I just didn't want to put it there, as it wastes the space for items I wanted in that corner.
That must have been so frustrating, I’ve done it myself thinking I’ve got a cage all set up then the water bottle holder wouldn’t fit, really annoying as I usually end up taking them out & just leaving the bowl after a week or so!
Have you thought about a tea light holder or something similar with a stone in it so there isn’t any deep water or room to fall in?
Have you thought about a tea light holder or something similar with a stone in it so there isn’t any deep water or room to fall in?
Just a thought what about an empty plastic bowl maybe a top off a pill bottle underneath the water bottle a tiny one so he can stii get to his bottle easily just to catch any drips it wouldn't have any weight to it but stability may need some thought
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That's a good idea Jain. I also wondered about half a plastic house I have but then he'd have to climb into that to drink. I have a nice granite tile I usually put under water bottles and I'm not going to faff about putting that on legs now ............... but it can go under the food bowl instead (for nail shortening).
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It was actually the reptile forum where people talked about boiling cork logs, and I was trying to avoid baking it as I don't like the smell. The main cork tunnel is fine - it's a cork "branch" that grew a bit of mould on the end. It's actually a branch, solid cork right through. So not so easy to dry out maybe. Baking would have been better (except I didn't want to bake it).
It's one of these - and it was a bit of a con! It looks like quite a large, long branch on the photo. What I received was a short, thick, stubby one! It's only about 6 to 8" long! I'm not going to be using it anyway.
Trixie Tronchos Cork Branches M
Due to the naturalness of the Tronchos cork branches , they are ideal for furnishing the enclosure. The slightly softer wood resists nail attacks…
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